2012
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Thézan-les-Béziers, 10km north of Béziers
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| Dry white - full bodied, fermented and aged 1 year in barrel |
| 75% Grenache Gris & Blanc, 25% Maccabeu |
14.0%
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Fish, chicken, pork, paella, oriental dishes
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Still good
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Now to 2028 or longer
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The estate's flagship white, from 80 year-old Grenache Gris and Blanc and Maccabeu vines. Following on from a tasting of older Domaine Ravanès wines I presented to my local wine group in early 2023, we managed to secure a few bottles each of several older vintages (between 2005 and 2015) from the estate's "library stock". And whilst the reds have an undoubted ability to age for many years, these vintages of Le Renard Blanc also serve to illustrate the remarkable age-worthiness and positive evolution of the white wines, over at least 20 years. With extended maceration on the grape skins, followed by a year's ageing in oak barrels, the freshness of youth slowly gives way to a gently oxidative/nutty style, as it ages, much in the way of an old-style white Rioja (think of the Reservas and Gran Reservas of Lopez de Heredia) though with slightly less woody character.
This really is in a great place right now. Medium gold in colour, uber-fresh and focused, with a nose majoring on citrus and stony minerality. The palate too is fresh, gently zesty, minerally and herby, with a touch of honey richness and fabulous length. Many of those present at my January 2023 tasting compared this wine very favourably with Lopez de Heredia's Vina Tondonia Rioja Blanco - high praise indeed. A stunning wine. |
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